Water Leaks: How To Save Your Home

Water leaks in a home are likely going to occur at some time in the life of a home. As homes move and settle, pipes and other plumbing can shift, putting pressure on joints and other plumbing fixtures. As Brooklyn plumbers, we have seen the damage that can occur when minor water leaks turn into big problems for homeowners and recommend the following steps to help save your Brooklyn home from severe water damage. If you are dealing with Brooklyn water leaks, Petri Plumbing can help save your home from severe water damage!

How To Identify Water Leaks

Most water leaks, unless there is a gushing leak from inside the home, are first noticed by home owners as a dripping sound. Inside your home, if you suspect that you have a toilet leaking, adding a few drops of food dye or dye tables into the tank and waiting 20-25 minutes to look for coloring can help identify leaks from the tank into the toilet bowl. Outside your home, looking for heavier concentrations of greener than normal vegetation around spigots or sprinkler heads can indicate a possible leak.

Don’t Wait to Fix Small Water Leaks

If you think that you may have a leak in your home but aren’t sure where it is located, view your water meter to see the level of water that is being used in your home. If you have not looked at your water heater previously, compare the existing water heater usage with a previous month. If the usage levels are higher, you are likely dealing with a water leak issue in your home. Leaving a small leak in place can add up to 14 percent more water usage to your home, which can not only mean larger bills each month, but can also mean higher costs when it comes to replacing damaged or broken pipes.

In Case of Emergency – When you have an emergency situation with water streaming in your home, know the first steps to take. If possible, shut off the water supply to an appliance that is leaking; if that is not possible, shut off the main water supply to your home. Identify where the water is coming from; if the water is near electrical outlets, turn off the electricity in your home at the fuse or breaker box. Once the water supply is shut off, call a plumber immediately to help solve the issue.

No one wants to have a small water leak turn into a catastrophe for their home, especially when the problem may have been solved with preventative maintenance. To find out more how to deal with Brooklyn water leaks in your home, give Petri Plumbing and Heating a call at 718-748-1254 today.